Michaela G. from Utah was the winner of the Propeller experience to "Win An All-Inclusive Trip To Brandi Carlile's Girls Just Wanna Weekend 5 In Riviera Maya, Mexico" that took place in January 2024. Below are some of Michaela's highlights from the experience.
As the winner of this sweepstakes, I got to enjoy 5 days at the all-inclusive Barcelo Riviera Maya Resort. This stunning resort sits along the Caribbean coast, with direct access to the beach. At the resort, I was able to enjoy a host of amenities including access to 24 hr snacks and drinks, the Beach Buffet, various restaurants, and multiple swimming pools.
A typical day involved a host of activities, including morning yoga on the beach, various workshops, and musical performances on the Pool Stage. Various excursions were available as well. Each evening culminated with performances by multiple artists on the Main Stage. A delicious variety of food and drinks was also available at the venue each night for the audience.
Propeller booked my plus one and I a flight to Mexico, where we hopped onto the GJWW5 shuttle to the resort. After checking into our room, we hurried off to the first performances of the series, Allison Russell and Brandi Carlile! They both blessed the audiences with beautiful, heartfelt performance, almost beyond words. I was also stunned by the beautiful decor and the effort that had been put into creating the outdoor venue space for the Main Stage. Multicolored flags dotted the surrounding walls, while colored paper lanterns and strings of lights lit the lawn. Several tents were set up each night with multiple dinner selections, including vegan, gluten and dairy free options. A fully stocked bar tent also kept attendees satisfied with endless drinks.
The next morning, we were able to explore everything the resort had to offer. My room had a glass door opening onto the lawn, surrounded by beautiful tropical flowers and trees. The walkable paths between various buildings at the resort allowed for an excellent opportunity to view local wildlife as well, such as sunning iguanas and singing Great Kiskadees. Most days, we attended several of the activities for the day, followed by a lovely swim in the ocean.
Night two included performances by KT Tunstall, Celisse, and Janelle Monae. This whirlwind evening both exhilarated and wowed the entire audience.
The next night, Brandi Carlile and Brandy Clark were joined onstage by music legends Kim Richey and Mary Chapin Carpenter, for the Titans of Americana, in which performers and audience members continuously brought each other to tears. They were followed by the stunning Sarah McLachlan, and finally the surprise guest, Annie Lennox!
Night four began with Lucius, and was followed by the Ladies of The 80s. This 29 song set incorporated all the performers from both the previous day's Main Stage and Pool Stage performances. The artists and audience sang, shouted, and danced together in a sea of neon 80s garb.
All the artists that performed absolutely poured their hearts and souls into each performance. Brandi Carlile has cultivated such a beautiful, accepting, supportive environment for her growing fan base through the annual GJWW events. Many of the people I met and talked to have come multiple times, and plan to attend in the future. Everyone in attendance, including the resort and event staff were incredibly kind and only contributed to the momentous feeling of joy that encompassed the entire weekend.
I am so grateful for this experience! Needless to say, I did not want it to end! I feel so blessed that I was able to win such a life-changing experience by taking action for great causes through Propeller!
- Michaela G.
